Prolific offender gets an 18-month prison term for Haverhill Golf Club burglary

A serial thief, who stole equipment from Haverhill Golf Club and champagne and a trampoline from Saffron Walden stores, has been jailed for 18 months.

One time county golfer Bradley Parker, 38, formerly of Railey Road, Saffron Walden, but now of Lippitts Hill, High Beach, Waltham Abbey, was told by a judge: “You are someone who makes your living engaging in crimes of dishonesty.”

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Parker, a drug addict, has 22 convictions for 35 offences from 1996 including 18 for dishonesty.

He has been in prison before – the last time was in 2015 when he was jailed for 12 months for conspiracy to commit theft.

Parker had pleaded guilty earlier at magistrates to burglary and theft of £5,852.62 worth of golf clubs, bags and clothing on 17 January this year at Haverhill; to burglary and theft of £690 of champagne from Adnams store in Saffron Walden on 22 March; and to stealing a £90 trampoline from Tesco on 26 March.

Haverhill Golf Club

Judge Charles Gratwicke told Parker the burglaries “were no doubt in order to fuel a drug addiction”.

He urged Parker to use his time in prison to sort out his drug problem and come out drug free. He would then be in a position to take up his family’s help of a residential rehabilitation place.

“It’s in your hands,” said the judge.

Prosecutor Caroline Gardiner said Parker’s DNA was found at Haverhill Golf Club. Stolen items were found by police at his property.

Cctv showed a vehicle arriving and people forcing their way into the building. Some of the property, £500 worth, was recovered from Parker's garage and home address.

On 22 March Adnams’ store manager noticed the automatic doors were slightly ajar and smashed bottles of champagne on the floor.

“Cctv shows two people at 2.30am trying to prise open the front doors. They were unsuccessful and returned an hour later with a crow bar to force the doors.

“They are seen grabbing bottles of champagne by the armfuls and throwing them into baskets,” said the prosecutor.

A red screwdriver found under a shelf had Parker’s DNA on it.

Parker shoplifted the trampoline from Tesco in Radwinter Road and was caught on cctv loading it into his car.

“The store manager, on looking on Essex Police website, saw a picture of Parker as a wanted person and linked the two,” the prosecutor told the court.

Parker was arrested on 23 April and has been in prison on remand since.

Mitigating, Emma Davenport said in the past Parker had always returned to his partner of 14 years and their four children after leaving prison. They both were dependent on drugs.

But he had ended that relationship, accepting they were “a bad combination”.

Their children were now with grandparents and they had lost their Saffron Walden home.

Parker’s parents had offered him a home temporarily as long as he was drug free.

“He is at his lowest possible point. When he is released he will be starting from scratch again,” she said.

Miss Davenport added: “Parker is a good golfer. He comes from a family of golfers. He has been a skilled golfer in the past, playing for the county and various clubs.”